Cleveland HVAC Blog

6 Ways to Care For Your Furnace And Air Conditioner

Even if you are not a do-it-yourself type, there are things you can (and should) do to get the most out of your HVAC equipment.

How to take care of your furnace and air conditioner:

Change your filter! You knew I was going to say that, didn’t you? This is the basic maintenance message for any furnace/air conditioner and for a good reason. You will keep your system running as cleanly and energy efficiently as possible by not allowing dirt to build up on your filter. You can write the date on the cardboard frame of the filter to remind you when it was last changed.

Make sure registers are clean and clear of debris. Allowing dust bunnies or pet hair to build up on registers can restrict airflow and strain your HVAC system. Often furniture or furniture covers can also block airflow both into and/or out of rooms- either situation can result in problems.

Purchase a Carbon Monoxide detector. This basic safety tool not only warns you of a dangerous (possibly life threatening) situation, but can alert the technician to a problem that needs to be addressed as well. Follow EPA guidelines for placing these safety devices throughout your home.

Replace your thermostat batteries. Your furnace and air conditioner can’t run without a thermostat, and some thermostats can’t run without batteries. A good way to remember is to change them every time you change the batteries in your smoke detectors (at Daylight Savings Time). Your technician can show you if your thermostat requires batteries and how to change the batteries during your preventive maintenance appointment.

Keep your outdoor unit free of weeds and mulch. Nothing should be touching or above the outdoor unit including bushes, weeds and dirt. Make sure the ground around the unit is not allowing water to puddle there. And protect your outdoor unit from your dog. Dogs like to mark their territory, but they can damage the air conditioner by marking it.

Maintain your accessories. Air cleaners and humidifiers need to be maintained as well. Check with your service technician at your next maintenance tune up to make sure you understand what needs to be maintained on your specific accessory items.

A little attention and regular preventive maintenance will allow you to get the most out of your HVAC system. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

About the P.K. Wadsworth Blog

Welcome! Read our latest posts or explore the archives. You’ll find tips for how to maintain your HVAC equipment to discussions about indoor air quality, conserving energy and saving money, and information about emerging technologies in heating and air conditioning. Bookmark our blog.